I believe that we all have someone in our life who has influenced us greatly. I have been incredibly fortunate to have had such amazing teachers in my life and to go through an incredible school system. I do think that some of the most important teachers, the ones that have a huge impact, are the ones I encountered in high school. Not to say that the teachers I had in my earlier schooling weren't as important - they definitely were! I think this because in high school I was old enough and mature enough to create an actual bond with the teachers I had. I was able to talk to them about anything, and they had so much respect for me and my peers that they were willing to get on a more personal level with us.
Hands down the greatest teacher of all time is Mr. Westerberg. I have never felt this strongly about a teacher in my entire life. I think that in every person’s life there’s a teacher that has an everlasting effect. Mr. Westerberg, or Berg as everyone calls him, is that person for me. I know that for so many other alumni of York High School he’s that person. Berg is a choral director at YHS. I mentioned my passion for singing in my introduction, and Berg took that passion to a whole new level. I also took music theory and music history classes with Berg, and the best part about those classes was that there were only five to seven people in them- probably since most people gag at the thought of the subject. He’s the silliest teacher I’ve ever had, and he never takes anything too seriously. Something that Berg did that no other teacher I've ever had has done, is make fun of himself. He made jokes with the students and always tried to prank us, and in return he was never angry when we tried to prank him. Like I said before, Berg never takes anything seriously, he let his students call him "Ugly," he legitimately let his students address him as Ugly. If that doesn't show his personality I don't know what does.
I can’t even put into words how much respect I have for him. If I’m being honest, I’m getting emotional just writing about him. I will always think highly of him because he thought so highly of every student he ever had. He took it upon himself to learn the names and make a personal connection with all his students. I was extremely lucky to be a student of his during every semester of my four years in high school. If you ask me what I miss most about high school, my answer would be Berg and all the laughs we shared.
I know that high school was a time where I made a lot of great memories, and most of them occurred in Mr. Westerberg's classroom. I still believe that high school is where students have more freedom when it comes to bonding with their teachers. At least in my case, I was more comfortable with myself and I knew who I was, who I wanted to be in the future. I felt that mentally I was on the same level with my teachers and I was able to create a more personal bond with almost all of them. Mr. Westerberg is still the greatest teacher I've ever had, even though I have had some pretty outstanding teachers in my life.
He taught me how to be selfless for those you love, and how to be silly. Berg always brought out the best of me, and I miss seeing him everyday.
Hands down the greatest teacher of all time is Mr. Westerberg. I have never felt this strongly about a teacher in my entire life. I think that in every person’s life there’s a teacher that has an everlasting effect. Mr. Westerberg, or Berg as everyone calls him, is that person for me. I know that for so many other alumni of York High School he’s that person. Berg is a choral director at YHS. I mentioned my passion for singing in my introduction, and Berg took that passion to a whole new level. I also took music theory and music history classes with Berg, and the best part about those classes was that there were only five to seven people in them- probably since most people gag at the thought of the subject. He’s the silliest teacher I’ve ever had, and he never takes anything too seriously. Something that Berg did that no other teacher I've ever had has done, is make fun of himself. He made jokes with the students and always tried to prank us, and in return he was never angry when we tried to prank him. Like I said before, Berg never takes anything seriously, he let his students call him "Ugly," he legitimately let his students address him as Ugly. If that doesn't show his personality I don't know what does.
I can’t even put into words how much respect I have for him. If I’m being honest, I’m getting emotional just writing about him. I will always think highly of him because he thought so highly of every student he ever had. He took it upon himself to learn the names and make a personal connection with all his students. I was extremely lucky to be a student of his during every semester of my four years in high school. If you ask me what I miss most about high school, my answer would be Berg and all the laughs we shared.
I know that high school was a time where I made a lot of great memories, and most of them occurred in Mr. Westerberg's classroom. I still believe that high school is where students have more freedom when it comes to bonding with their teachers. At least in my case, I was more comfortable with myself and I knew who I was, who I wanted to be in the future. I felt that mentally I was on the same level with my teachers and I was able to create a more personal bond with almost all of them. Mr. Westerberg is still the greatest teacher I've ever had, even though I have had some pretty outstanding teachers in my life.
He taught me how to be selfless for those you love, and how to be silly. Berg always brought out the best of me, and I miss seeing him everyday.